Private Family & On-Set Educational Support
Confidential educational support for young performers, high-profile and traveling families, and students who need a specialist rather than a tutor.
Some students cannot put school on hold. A young actor with a shooting schedule. A family that moves between Greenwich, Manhattan, and Palm Beach. A student whose ADHD or dyslexia means a generic tutor will not be enough. DES has worked with families like these since 2009, quietly: on-set tutoring during production, private education in the home, or sessions online.
Every DES executive function coach is a special education certified educator, and most of our tutors are state-certified teachers. We are the call when a student needs more than an ordinary set teacher or in-home tutor.
Who We Support: Child Actors, Traveling Families, and Students With Learning Differences
- Child actors and other young performers on set, in rehearsal, or on tour who need to stay current with their own school's curriculum while they work.
- High-profile and traveling families who want a private travel tutor and in-home educator across homes in Connecticut, New York, and Florida, with virtual sessions in between, so the student does not start over each time the family moves.
- Students with learning differences, including ADHD, dyslexia and other reading or writing difficulties, autism, executive function deficits, and anxiety around school, and students with IEPs and 504 plans.
- Students at demanding independent schools whose workload does not pause for a production schedule or travel.
On-Set Tutoring, Studio Teachers, and In-Home Academic Support
Executive function coaching is the core of our work: getting the student started, keeping him or her on the plan, and providing accountability between sessions. Around that, we provide on-set and in-home academic instruction that follows the student's own school curriculum, special education support from certified special educators, and ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT preparation. When a family asks us to, we communicate with the student's teachers and advisors so everyone is working from the same plan.
For productions in New York, we are familiar with the child performer education rules in 12 NYCRR Part 186, including the daily instruction hours and the attendance and lesson records a production must keep.
DES can serve as the student's primary academic support or work alongside a production's existing studio teacher or set teacher when a young performer needs specialized executive function, special education, remediation, or test preparation support. We confirm the credential requirements with each production before an assignment begins.
Why Families and Productions Call DES
For some students, keeping up with school is only part of the assignment. A child performer with ADHD, dyslexia, executive function challenges, or an IEP may need an educator who understands how that student learns, not simply someone who is available during production hours. DES matches the educational specialist to the student first, then builds the support around the family's or production's schedule. The same holds for a traveling family: one plan, one point of contact, and continuity from one home to the next.
How It Works
Aron Boxer, our founder, takes the initial consultation and remains the family's or production's point of contact. That call covers the student, the school, the schedule, and what the family or production needs from us. From there, the DES educator is selected for the student's specific needs and the demands of the assignment, and Aron personally oversees the work.
Discretion comes first. We sign NDAs and complete background checks as required, and we do not publicize client relationships. Sessions are billed by the hour, with no prepaid packages and no long-term contracts.
Where We Work: Manhattan, Westchester, Greenwich, and Palm Beach County
In home and in person in Greenwich and Fairfield County, Connecticut. In home throughout Westchester County. In person throughout Manhattan, with educator availability matched to the location and schedule of each assignment. In home throughout Palm Beach County, Florida, from our Boca Raton office. Virtually, wherever a student is working or traveling.
Start With a Conversation
Aron takes every initial consultation himself. Tell us about the student, the school, and the schedule, and we will tell you plainly whether DES is the right fit.
Greenwich (203) 550-3222 | Manhattan (917) 397-2775 | Boca Raton (561) 264-7358
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide studio teachers or on-set tutors for film, television, and theater productions in New York?
Yes. New York requires a production to provide a teacher who is certified or holds credentials recognized by New York State when a child performer misses school, along with minimum daily instruction hours and written attendance and lesson records. DES educators are certified teachers, and we confirm the credential requirements with each production before an assignment begins. We can also work alongside a production's existing on-set teacher when a student has learning differences that call for a specialist.
Can one coach work with our family in both Connecticut and Florida?
Often, yes. Many DES families split the year between Fairfield County or Manhattan and Palm Beach County. Where the same coach cannot travel, we keep the plan and the point of contact the same and continue sessions virtually so the student does not start over each time the family moves.
Do you work with students who have IEPs or 504 plans?
That is our specialty. Every DES executive function coach is a special education certified educator, and we work with students with ADHD, dyslexia and other reading or writing difficulties, autism, executive function deficits, and anxiety around school every day. We follow the student's existing plan and communicate with the school when the family asks us to.
Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
Yes. We sign NDAs and complete background checks as a production or family requires, and we do not publicize client relationships.
How is this billed?
Sessions are billed by the hour rather than sold in prepaid packages. Students typically meet weekly so there is enough consistency to build skills and maintain momentum, and full instruction days are available for productions. Families can review our scheduling and cancellation policies before beginning.
Who will we be dealing with?
Aron Boxer, our founder, takes the first conversation on every assignment and personally oversees the DES educator assigned to the student. Families and productions have one point of contact from the first call onward.